Suspect in Rape of 5-Year-Old Arrested; Due in Court Today

BARDENTON | The man accused of kidnapping and raping a 5-year-old girl in Manatee County is scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon.

BAY NEWS 9

BARDENTON | The man accused of kidnapping and raping a 5-year-old girl in Manatee County is scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon.

Deputies say 36-year-old Dominick Jerome Hawkins lured the child away from her home as she played outside with a friend at the Wayside Glen Mobile Home Park Monday.

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, he took her to a nearby convenience store to buy candy and then to a vacant mobile home in the Aloha Estates Mobile Home Park at 5310 14th St. where he choked and raped her.

The girl told family members of the attack.

Two video clips later emerged allegedly showing Hawkins with the girl. One piece of surveillance footage shows a man and a girl at the counter of the India Bazaar selecting pieces of candy.

The second video allegedly shows Hawkins urgently trying to board a county public bus and the driver refusing to open the door for him. A child can be seen running behind in the background of the clip.

Neighbors of the girl say they are relieved a suspect is in jail.

"I haven't been able to sleep at night, worrying about the family, worrying about my kids.," neighbor Julie Taylor said. "I'm just really happy that he's been caught."

Deputies say they received a tip from someone who said the man in one video had temporarily lived in a mobile home and carried a lunch box. Investigators said they found the lunch box. It had the name of a Sarasota family on it, which eventually led to Hawkins.

He was arrested Wednesday at a homeless facility in Sarasota.

Investigators say he admitted he was on both video clips, but did not admit to the crimes.

He faces charges of kidnapping and capital sexual battery. Because of the brutal nature of the attack, he could face the death penalty if convicted.

The victim was treated at a nearby hospital and is now with her parents.

Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube said she was lucky to be alive.

"She told us she was really scared and that she would never want to talk to any strangers anymore,” said one of the victim’s relatives.

Another relative told us the family is sad and shocked about what happened.

Hawkins has been in jail before. His most recent arrest was in Manatee County in May.